Top 5 India v South Africa clashes in ODIs

Top 5 India v South Africa clashes in ODIs: South Africa have dominated India when it comes to ODIs, they have won 42 out of the 71 games played between the two nations, they will definitely have the upper hand going into series having all their bases covered.

India on the other hand while sitting ducks away (winning only 13 out of 35 matches played away from home, have been able to resist the South African charge at home winning 13 of the 23 games these two sides have played in India.

Irrespective of the record, both teams have contributed to a lot of classics and mouth-watering ties.

Let us take a look at Top 5 India v South Africa clashes in ODIs:

5. C.A.B Cup Semi-Final, 1993: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eskHKKvcCPg

In the year 1993, the Proteas were relatively new to ODI cricket, they were only in their 3rd year of their return to International Cricket from their cricket exile and they had a point or two to prove. Their return was brilliant, semi-finalists in their first ever world cup and they probably would’ve gone on to win it had the rain gods shown some mercy.

India had won the toss and chose to bat. However, they could only manage to score 195 in their 50 overs with the help of Captain Azharuddin who scored 90 and some support from Pravin Amre. Sachin scored a paltry 15, something people would generally overlook.

SA too had a start-stop chase with a fifty from Andrew Hudson at the top of the order and then 48* by Brian McMillan who came in at No. 6. No other batsman contributed much which took SA to 190/8 in 49 overs.

SA needed 6 off the last over with 2 wickets to spare and the captain Azharuddin had both Kapil Dev and Javagal Srinath at his disposal, however, he chose to go with Sachin to bowl the 50th over. Sachin until that point hadn’t bowled a single ball in the game, immense pressure in front of the boisterous Eden Gardens crowd for a 20-year-old one would’ve thought. What followed next was truly amazing. India won by 2 runs, Sachin gave away only 3 runs making it probably the best over he ever bowled in an ODI. A gamble that truly paid off, Sachin who for the years to come would weave magic with his bat, that day won the game with the ball. This game was another semi-final where South Africa had lost the plot, something that they have been doing ever since.